Method of and apparatus for testing gases.



G. G. CREWSON.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING GASES- APPLICATION FILED lULY 3 I916.

Patented Nov, 6, 1917.

awe/whom Q ALLi-K M-L UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE G. CREWSON,

HASSLACHER CHEMICAL 00., 'QF NEW YORK, N. Y,., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING eases;

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon GRANT CREW- SON, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Tottenville, in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Testing Gases, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a meanswhereby a person unskilled in maksuch tests may readily carry out the testmg of a sample of any gas to ascertain its heating value; another object is to provide thosev who frequently have to make recurrent tests upon samples of the same gas, with a ready means of continuously accom- "plishing this purpose without being 'co'm-' pelled to rearrange the details in each test.

In the accompanying drawing, I have diagrammatically illustrated, by way'of excapable of being heated and made ample, an arrangement of apparatus which I preferably use in the carrying out of my new method.

The apparatus comprises an actuating tank lin which a float 2 is adapted to rise until siphon 3 isfilled, thewater entering tank 1 preferably under constant pressure through pipe 4. Siphon 3 is connected at its lower end with water chamber 5, the discharge end of the siphon reaching somewhat below the middle of the chamber and being surrounded by a cylinder 6 extending somewhat below the discharge end of the siphon. Within chamber 5 is mounted a float 7 connected by a rope 8 with a weight 9, said weight having an upper contact 10 and a lower one 11 to open or close, respectively, a valve 12 in pipe 13 by contacting with andmoving the handle of said valve Pipe 13 connects chamber 5 with a calorimeter coil 14, which is a conductor preferably in -the form of a hollow, metallic 'flat' ribbon, said coil being incased within the closed heating chamber 15. Calorimeter.

coilr14 discharges into water chamber 16, preferably mounted on top of chamber 15, pipe 17 conducting the water from the water chamber 16 intothe sewer. Chamber 15, is providedwith a chimney 18, a burner 19 in said-chimney being fed with gas through pipe 20, branching off from main gas pipe 21. -Main gas pipe 21 leads to a closed .vessel 22, acting as a liquid seal, and therefore gas holder 31 provided with a movable bell- 32; rope 33 attached to bell 32 at one end and carrymg a weight 34 at the other actuates contacts 35 and 36, which open or close respectively,-,a valve 37 in pipe 38 connecting Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

OF TOTTENVILLE, NEW YORK, 'ASSIGNOR TO THE ROESSLER &

the gas holder 31 with the burner 39, in the hood 40, located below the calorimeter coil 14 in the heating chamber 15, saidhood 40 being preferably located .in a diametrically opposite position to water chamber 16 and arranged to discharge the products of combustion from burner 39 into heating chamber' 15. a

Float 2 in tank 1, and bell 25 are preferably pivotally connected to holding rods 41 and ,42 respectively, which in turn are also pivotally connected to .lever 43 carried by support 44.- r

Water chamber 5 is provided with a thermometer bulb '45, connected by means of tube .46, of small caliber, with a diaphragm box 47 said bulb 45, tube 46 and diaphragm box 47 are filled with a suitable medium,

such as airor other medium expanding and contracting under the lnfluence of heat and cold, so that said medium exerts pressure against the diaphragm of box 47, a rod 48 attached to said diaphragm acting upon an indicator arm 49 carrying. a pencil or pen,

in the usual way, adapted to write on a paper indicator 50. Water-chamber 16,-at the discharge end of calorimeter C011 14 is also provided with a thermometer bulb 51 connected by means of tube 52, with a diaphragm box 53 carrying a rod 54, all parts of this latter arrangement corresponding in dimensions with those connected with waterchamber 5; as shown rods 54 and 48 both tion from burner 39 can pass through cham- -'ber 15 only by meansof passageways 56, provided in the lower branch of-each bend of coil. 14, the baflle-plates 57 at the end of the upper branch ateach bend of the'coll,

to travel a s'uliicient distance so that compelling a zig-zag path for said combustion gases through the successive series of passageways 56, said gases being finally discharged into chimney 1S. y

The method of measuring the heating value of the produced gases will now be described, reference being had to the apparatus described above as one example of how my method oftesting the heating value of gas may be carried on to obtain a satisfactory efiect. Tank 1 is filled with water through pipe 4 from a suitable source (not shown) until it reaches the highest level of siphon 3. The entering water raises float 2 and holding rod 41 acts on lever 43, pushing its left-hand end upwardand lowering) its right-hand end to which gas bell 25 is attached by means of rod 12; gas bell 25 is now lifted as the water in tank 1 begins to overflow, through siphon 3 coming into action, and tank 1 being emptied ;=as bell 25 rises it draws in a definite volume of gas from main pipe 21, through seal 22. As the water continuously enters tank 1 through pipe 1, float 2 is raised again, and gas bell 25 is lowered again, whereby the volume of gas, previously drawn in by the upward move of the gas bell, is now forced through pipe 28-, into the seal 29 from which it passes through pipe 30, into gas holder 31, gas bell 32 moving upwardly owing to the pressure of the gas. From gas holder 31 the gas passes through pipe 38 to burner 39 where it isignited to give up its heat to the calorimeter coil 1 L, filled with the watert'ro'm tank'l, by means of the connection through siphon 3, water chamber 5 and pipe 13. At the moment the water enters chamber 5 its temperature is relatively low and the medium in bulb 45, tube L6 and diaphragm box 4C7 soonassumesthe same temperature. The heat generated by the gas burned by burner 39 is given off to the calorimeter coil and its water content. Passageways 56 through coil 14, and battle plates 57 force the combustion gases in a Zigzag path through the heating chamber as described. whereby the gases are compelled the coil, and consequently the water .tl1erein,,will absorb the heat ofthe combustion gases. Itis evident that the water and the hot gases act on each other according to the well-known counter current principle and-that therefoi c the water passing through the lowest wind ing of the coil is exposed to the greatest a considerableincreaseintemperature. At the discharge end of coil-1i the temperature l v is measured by thermometer bulb o1, prefer-- and gas holder 31,

heat of the combustion gases antl therefore shows -and 10 actingon the stem valve 12.

causes rod 5M0 actuate indicator arm 49. The pressure exerted by rod 54: on indicator arm 4L9 is, of course, influenced-by the increase or decrease of the volume of the medium in bulb 45 in water-chamber 5 owing to variations in the temperature of the water passing through said water-chamber, so that the curve marked by indicator arm 49 on indicator sheet 50, always represents the difference in the temperature of the water in the two chambers for. a certain period of time.

-To secure a good combustion, an artificial draft may be created, if desired, by maintaining a flame on burner 19.

-Certain precautions should be taken in the construction and operation of the apparatus to avoid errorsin the results. For instance the diameter of siphon 3 must be considerably greater than that of inlet pipe 4V in order that the variation inthe quantity of water flowing into tank 1 during the siphoning will introduce only a negligible error, unless water pressure variations are excessive. To avoid this latter, a tank. serving as water source, may be provided, in which either by overflow or float valve, a constant volume of water is maintained so that a constant quantity of water may; be supplied therefrom to tank 1.

The supply ofa constant volume of water to tank '1 for the operation of float 2 and the consequent operation of the gas bell 25 should take place at such a rate that the quantity of gas discharged from gas holder 31 in a constant flow for a unit of time or over a period covered by the cycle of water measurement described above, will be just equalto that quantity forced into gas during the period of discharge from gas pump 24.

In case the flow of gas holder 31 over agiven cycle is the contact 35 on the weight 34 to strike the rod of valve 37 thus automatically opening said valve slightly to allow a larger flow 'from holder 31. Similarly if the flow from holder 31 will thus flow to the burner 39, at a continuously even rate- Similarly the flow'of water from tank 1 through tank a into calorimetercoil 14 is automatically regulated on the same printoo small, the valve 12 will be accordingly closed or opened respectively by contactis 11 t is clear. therefore, from t e foregoin3that the quantity ot'water. passing throng the calorimeter andthe quantity of gasburned al ways have the same ratio regardless of the slightly less than the flow into the same over that cycle the bell 32 of the gas holder 31 will rise to a higher point, causing lessened: it is evident that the gas from,

. ciple; if the flow from tank 5 is too large orv I rate of How of either and that the difference in temperature between the water entering and leaving the calorimeter vessel, as registered by arm i9 on indicator sheet 50, is therefore the measure of the heat value of the gas.

It is obvious that the method of measuring the heat value of gases by operating for instance an apparatus as described has considerable advantages over the methods usually applied up to now, for it permits the use of a convenient means for maintaining the ratio between the quantity of gas and the quantity of absorbing medium; its'accuracy is entirely independent of atmospheric cbnditions and it is not easily affected by limited amounts of solid impurities or dirt in either the gas or the water, nor by" reasonable changes in water pressure or its temperature; furthermore the simple method of operation permits its use without expert attention and admits of constructing the apparatus in a rugged strong design so that it can be easily adapted, for factory use, to any kind. of combustible gas.

I do not restrict myself in either the arrangement of parts or 'in the construction thereof, to the details shown and described, further than the scope of theajppended claims demands.

I claim: 7

1. A method of vtesting the heating value of gas, consisting in drawing gas from a suitable source, continuously burning the gas, conveying the heat of combustion to water constantly flowing in a continuous stream through means capable of' being heated, passing the hot combustion gases over said means in a direction opposite that of the water and simultaneously measuring the difference in the temperature of the water before receiving and after receiving the heat conveyed thereto.

2. A method of testing the heating value of gas, consisting in furnishing a supply of water, intermittently drawing a constant volume of water from said supply, drawing a constant volume of the gas from a suitable source by means controlled by the water supply, continuously burning the gas, conveying the heat of combustion'to water constantly flowing in a continuous stream.

through means capable of being heated, passing the hot products of combustion in a direction opposite that of the Water over said means and simultaneously measuring the difference in the temperature of the water before receiving and after receiving the heat conveyed thereto.

A methpd of testing the heating value of gas, consisting in supplying a constant flow of water, drawing the gas from a suitable source by means controlled by the water supply, continuously burning the gas, regulating its supply at an even rate during the combustion, conveying the heat of combustion to a:continuousstream of the water through means capable of being heated, controlling the gas supply, passing the hot gases in a direction opposite that of the water and simultaneously measuring the difierence in the temperature of the water, beforereceiving and after receiving the heat conveyed thereto. 7

4. A method of testing the heating value of gas consisting in continuously burning the gas, conveying the heat of combustion to water constantly flowing in a direction opposite the course of the combustion gases, simultaneously measuring the difference in the temperature of the water before receiving and after receiving the heat conveyed thereto,and supplying in each cycleof opopposite the course of the combustion gases through a: calorimter vessel, simultaneously measuring the difference in the temperature of thewater before entering and after leaving the calorimeter'vessel, controlling the supply of the gas to be tested by the flow of the water, subsequently absorbing the heat produced by the burned gas and maintaining a constant ratio between the volume of gas to be burned and the quan-' tity of water absorbing the heat of combustion. i

6. The method of testing the heating value of gases and rendering visible the measure of said heating value, consisting in automatically drawing in the sample of gas to be tested by means actuated by flowing water, subsequently conducting this water through a calorimeter vessel, burning the gas continuously below said calorimeter vessel, conveying the heat of combustion to the water flowing through said calorimeter vessel, simultaneously measuring the difference in the temperature of the water before entering and after leaving the calorimeter'vessel and graphically indicating said difference in temperature by means controlled by said temperature changes.

7. In an apparatus for testing the heating value of gas, the combination of a gas pump, a' gas holder. an actuating tank, a calorimeter vessel, connections between the gas pump and the gas holder, operatively arranged connections between the actuating tank and the gas pump, connections between the actuating tank and the calorimeter vessel, a gas-conducting pipe leading from the gas holder and terminating in a burner below the calorimeter vessel and a thermom eter both 'at the inlet and at the outlet .of the calorimeter vessel.

in an apparatus for testing the heating value of gas, the combination of agas pump, a gas holder, an actuating tank, a calo rimeter vessel, aseal between the gas supply pipe and the entrance pipe to the gas pump, a connection between the gas pump and the gas hold-er, a seal in said connection, op tively arranged connections between the l tuating tank and the gas pump, connections between the actuating tank and the "alorimeter vessel, a gas-conducting pipe leading from the gas holder and terminating in a burner below the calorimeter vessel and a thermometer both at the inlet ant at the outlet of the calorimeter vessel.

9. In an apparatus for testing the-hea value of gas, the combination of a gas pump, a gas holder, a movable bell in the gas holder, an actuating tank, a calorimeter vessel, a seal interposed between as-supply lpc and the entrance pipe to a connection between the gas pump and the ,iolder, a seal in said connection, operatively arranged connections betw' tuating tank and gas pump, no time betw'en the actuating tank and the calorimeter vessel, gas-conducting pipe from. the gas holder and terminal' burner below the calorimeter vessel, r gulating valve interposed in said gas concocting pipe between its ven end and the holderfan operatively arranged connection between the aforesaid regulating valve and the movable bell oi the holder. and a thermometer both toe inlet tee outlet of the sailor eter vessel.

16. In an apt. atus for testing the heataluc of gas, the coi'nbination o'f gas a gas holcei', an actuating tank, a

watera amber, a calorimeter vessel, connec tions oetween the pump and the holder, a supply 1pc entering the actuating tank, a float within actuating tank operatively c nnected with the gas pump, a siphon connection between the actuat-ing tank and the water chamber, a connection between the latter and the calorimeter vessel, an. automatic regulating de ice interposed in the last named CO1 nection, a, gas conducting pipe leading from the gas holder and terminating in a burner below the calorimeter vessel, and a thermometer in the water-chamber and at the outlet of the calorimeter vessel. I

11. in an apparatusior testing the heating value of gas, the combination ot a gas pump, a gas holder, an actuating tank, a water-chamber, a walorimeter vessel, connections between the gas pump and the gas holder, a water supply pipe entering the actuating tank, a float within said actuating tank operativcly connected with the gas pump, a siphon connection between the actuating tank and the water-chamber, a connection between the water-chamber and the calorimeter vessel, a valve interposed in said connection between the water chamber and the calorimeter vessel, a connection beveen said valve and the water-chamber, a as conducting pipe leading "from the gas holder and terminating in a burner below the calorimeter vessel, and a thermometer both in the water chamber and at the outlet of the calorimeter vessel.

12. In an maparatus for testing the heating value of gas, the combination of a gas pump, a gas holder, an actuatingtank, a water-chamber, a calorimeter vessel comprising flat metallic tube, folded into a coil and rovided with passageways in the lower branch of each bend of the coil, said coil bebig incased to form a zigzag path for traveling gases, connections between the gas pump and the gas holder. a water supply pipe entering the actuating tank, a float within said actuating tank operativcl connected with the gas pump, sip on connection between the actuating tanl and the water-chamber, a connection between the latter and the coil, an automatic ice interposed in said tion, a gas conducting pipe leading from the gas holder and terminating in a burner below the metal coil, and a thermon'ieter both in the waterchamber and at the outlet of the coil.

lit-testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

gulating olelast named counec- 

